Page 12 of Cruise

Chapter One

Andrew “Booker” Thomson thought through all the ways this weekend could go wrong. When War, the president of Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC, had asked Booker if he and his friend could check on one of the MC’s nomads, it had been the perfect excuse for what he needed to do this weekend. War had also offered for Booker and his friend Twist to officially become a part of Bluff Creek as nomads.

Booker had jumped at the chance because he loved Bluff Creek’s original Chapter in Kansas and their other Chapter in Cider Creek, Texas, but there was still something missing. He adored the brotherhood he’d found and the family aspect, but he wasn’t settled. It felt like his life wasn’t complete, but he didn’t believe he’d find what was missing in Bluff Creek. Becoming a nomad would allow him to search for that missing part of him while still having the brotherhood he’d missed after he got out of the Army.

For now, he and Twist would check on Compass. Twist was his best friend, and he couldn’t imagine going nomad without him. They’d served together, which is where Twist had gotten his name. Twist was short for Twister because he was amazing at predicting the weather. Twist loved storm chasing, so going nomad with Booker fit perfectly.

Since Booker booked them into the same hotel where he had the event at, he should be able to sneak away. In a perfect world. He and Twist were checking in late on Friday night. Booker was hoping their check-in was late enough that he’d miss anyone recognizing him in the hallways.

Booker didn’t know why he was hiding it from his club brothers. They readily accepted that he loved reading all novels but especially romance. It was just opening himself up and sharing that he also posed for photos that were used on romance book covers that he hadn’t been able to do yet.

He hadn’t even considered it until he’d contacted an author he liked about loving her books. Then he joined her ARC team, and she’d seen his picture. She’d begged him to model for her. And the rest was history. Once her friends had seen him on her covers, he’d had numerous people wanting photos. He’d traveled to a couple different photographers to have photos done. Now, he had extra income from the photo sales.

He did wish that Dex was with him and Twist. They’d served together before all retiring at the same time. Dex had fallen in love with Bluff Creek in Kansas and was helping with their gun range. It suited Dex, but Booker had felt strange when he and Twist rode away without their friend. Logically, he knew they all wouldn’t be together forever, but it had felt strange. They’d been their version of the three musketeers, but things changed. Twist motioned to Booker to pull over for gas. Booker guessed they were still about twenty minutes from the hotel.

He pulled in and filled up while Twist did the same at another pump.

“Yo, I’m beat. What do you say to us getting takeout then just heading to our rooms? I don’t think I’m up for partying tonight,” Twist said.

“I’m game. I want to wash the road dust off and sleep after filling my stomach. I’ve got that thing tomorrow until we meet Compass for supper. What are your plans?” Booker asked.

“We’re not that far from our Cider Creek Chapter. Since you’re busy, I thought I’d drive out there. Brew offered to give me a tour of their brewery.”

Booker breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t have to worry about Twist seeing him at the signing. Though he shouldn’t relax too soon. Motorcycles, Mobsters and Mayhem was a huge signing with readers and authors who would definitely notice their cuts. He’d hope for the best and plan for the worst. He couldn’t see Twist giving him too much crap about being a cover model. He just really didn’t want the women back at Bluff Creek to know he modeled, or he’d never get any peace. He’d been lucky he hadn’t been found out yet because he’d seen one of the books he was a model for on one of the Franks sisters’ bookshelves. Booker would probably miss the excitement of never knowing what the sisters were getting up to and how it would affect the MC.

Booker rode to the hotel after grabbing their takeout. The check-in process at the Frisco hotel was easy, and in no time at all, he was in his room. He’d slipped a hat on when they walked into the hotel and kept his face hidden when he spotted a couple of women in T-shirts with bookish sayings.

He unpacked his small bags, which he’d bought specifically to fit in his saddlebags. He hung up his clothes, knowing he’d need to iron them before tomorrow. As small as he made stuff to fit in, it usually got wrinkled. Grabbing his toiletries, he turned the shower on to let it heat up. He wasn’t lying on his clean bed as dusty as he was. Stripping down, he put his dirty clothes in a bag. If they were staying longer, he’d probably have the hotel wash his stuff, but he and Twist planned on two nights only. If he needed other clothes, he could always go buy them.

He slid under the hot spray and let it soak him. He turned the spray to massage to hit his shoulders. He wasn’t sure why he was dissatisfied with being at Bluff Creek and had jumped at the chance to go nomad. The comradery gave him the sense of brotherhood that he’d enjoyed in the military, but there was just something missing. He wasn’t sure if it was so many of the guys falling for women while he hadn’t even gone on a date or if it was something else.

He'd attend the signing tomorrow, meet readers, and chat with authors. Hopefully, other authors would see him on the cover and decide he was perfect for their character. He had his eye on a new Harley. He could buy it now, but he’d set a goal that he’d only use his money from modeling for it.

He shampooed his short hair, rinsed it, and then ran the soap over his body. As he washed his cock, he wondered if he just needed to get laid. Maybe that was what he was missing. The closeness with another human being. He’d been using his hand enough; he wasn’t even interested in rubbing one out tonight. Shower, eat and then sleep. He needed to be up early tomorrowto do his part. Once out of the shower, he smoothed beard oil over his beard, then put lotion on. He wouldn’t want dry, flaky skin tomorrow at the signing.

Alexandra Sullivan finished putting the preorder items in bags. One of the authors she was an assistant for had supplied the bags but had needed someone to put them together. It was one of the many services she provided for her authors. Her mom was taking a shower. Sixty percent of the time, Alex traveled in her RV to signings by herself, but the incidents had kicked up recently. Her mom didn’t feel safe staying by herself.

If you had asked Alex if she dreamed her brother would ever hurt her growing up, she would have said no. But addiction did crazy things to people. Alex had been a military brat her whole life. The longest they’d stayed anywhere was when they were stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, KS. Alex had been able to attend the school in the same place from eighth grade through her junior year. Alex still remembered having toleave before she got to go to prom with her date. The first boy she’d ever loved. No, honestly, the only one she’d ever loved. She’d had relationships over the years, but nothing stood up to her first and only love.

When her dad was moved, Alex had to leave everything behind again. When her dad finally retired, her mom was so happy. They settled on Alex’s granddad’s ranch outside of Logan Falls, South Dakota and took care of her granddad until he passed. Everything had been fine even though her brother was already an addict. As long as her dad was alive, her brother wouldn’t dream of hurting Alex or her mom. But she’d lost her dad five years ago. Since then, they’d installed better surveillance and alarms at the ranch, but it wasn’t always enough. After her brother had found her on the road, Alex had sold her RV and purchased a new one under her company’s name. It was one more layer to keep her brother from finding her. Alex was licensed to conceal carry where it was permitted and never traveled anywhere without her gun. If push came to shove, she would defend herself or her mom, though it broke her heart to think of hurting her brother.

“Alex, I’m done. Do I need to do anything for you?” her mom asked.

“Nope. I finished it all. I’ll grab a quick shower, then bed. I’m so tired that I’m not even sure I can stay awake to read tonight.”

Her mom smiled while walking by. “You say that but then you’ll wake up from the shower. I have my tablet. I promised Nat that I’d let her know what I thought about the start of her book. Those Nelson brothers are so intriguing.”

Alex hid a smirk. Her mom had always been a reader and enjoyed all types of books. When Alex had started being an assistant to authors, she’d needed to find good alpha and beta readers. Most of Alex’s authors wrote MC romance or mafia romance. Her mom had read neither, but once she had, she washooked. Nat Logan was one of the authors her mom worked with. Her mom also had a list of authors she wanted to connect with tomorrow because she adored their books. In fact, her mom was almost giddy at meeting Winters Travers, Darlene Tallman, Sapphire Knight, Khloe Wren and so many others.

“Alex, don’t you be laughing at me. So I came late to loving romance books. I had the perfect hero with your dad. Now he’s gone, I can live vicariously through my books.”

Alex didn’t begrudge her mom living vicariously through the books, but she also wouldn’t begrudge her mom finding someone who made her happy. Alex had almost given up hope for herself. She was forty-two. Maybe her standards were too high, but she wasn’t going to put up with someone treating her as less than. Reading about the amazing cinnamon roll heroes or swoony book boyfriends had her realizing she wanted a man who loved her for who she was. Not someone he needed her to be.

Chapter Two

Twist had texted he’d left for their Cider Creek Chapter. The weight that seemed to lift from Booker’s shoulders told him he needed to share with his brother. He looked in the mirror and tucked the white T-shirt into the dark black jeans that hugged his thighs. He trimmed up his beard, ruthlessly looking close to see if there were any more gray hairs. He’d found one last week.

Next week, he turned forty-three, and he wasn’t ready to go gray yet. He made sure he had the black gauges in his ears that he’d had the day of the shoot and then grabbed his black ball cap. He’d considered wearing a cut but decided he wouldn’t today. It was his first signing, and he wanted to get the lay of the land a little. He’d realized that being on the road might be a good thing. He always worked out, but the food he’d had at Bluff Creek had him worried his abs might not look as good as they used to in photos.

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